Keegan Lowe drafted by Carolina

President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe of the Edmonton Oilers and son 73rd overall pick Keegan Lowe by the Carolina Hurricanes look on during day two of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at Xcel Energy Center on June 25, 2011 in St Paul, Minnesota. Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

Keegen Lowe has always loved the Oilers, but he doesn’t want to be one.

Unlike the other former Oilers sons who are thrilled that Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini shook the family tree Saturday, he’s glad to be playing somewhere else.

With his dad still in the high-profile president of hockey operations seat, and still a lightning rod for some critics, why not just start fresh somewhere else?

“Keegan had asked us not to draft him,” said Kevin, who totally understood the thought process involved. “Absolutely, very much so. I don’t want to say it’s bitter sweet, but he wanted to know that he’d made his own way. We wish him all the best.

“Our guys liked him, but it worked out well, he went to a good organization.”

The Canes took him 73rd, one pick before the Oilers picked fellow Edmonton Oil King Travis Ewanyk 74th.

“It’s a really special moment for me in my hockey life,” said Kevin. “It rates up there with my own personal successes. Any parent would concur with that.”

Visits will be tough, given that Carolina is as far away from Edmonton as it gets. On the bright side, everytime Kevin Lowe used to see Canes sweater he was reminded of the 2006 Cup final, maybe this will take the edge off the imagery.

“I was there too (in ’06), I was a little upset back then,” said Keegan. “But now I’m happy.”

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“I think it says a lot about our future,” said Keegan. “We’re an up and coming team.”